Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-08
MR.. WATTERsON'S VIEWS.
Cleveland q Democratic Nscessity-Fh
Solid south Rssdy to Break.

cleveland Democrs1c Necessity-rhe
Solid south Rssdy to Break.
Interview IN the Chicago Tribune.
"Mr. Watterson, what about Cleve-
land7" -
81 do not believe there Is the slightest
chance of the Democratic party winning
next year unless it does nominate Cleye
land. He is the euly man that can, under
present conditions, carry the party to
victory. l don't see how they are going
to get around it. They must take MIN.
1t will be perhaps to SONS like dose of
medicine, but then, as the quack says,
'Its my compound or DEATH"
"Oae object of John Shermsn's tour
south, it is said by Virginia paper, is to
prepare the way for re7iving cne Repub-
lcanparty there, outside of uegrOism and,
sectional prejudice. Do you believe such
thing pOssiOle?"
"It is not only possible, but probable.
[ am looking every year for breakup of
the solid south, and it will be 8 good
thug for the country when it comes. But
IL will never come until the Republican
party Of the north drops its seCtionalism,
ceases 1t attempts to array race against
race and burieS the bloody shirt.
That garment should be burned and its
ashes sc altered. Just so long as the
Republicans keep alive the memories Of
the war, keep alOft the banner of sec
tionallsm, seek TO aid and maintain negro
dominance under the sentimental guise
OF equal rights and all that, Just 50 long
will the white people of the south main
tain solid front. They must do
it. 1t is their protection Their
safety and their honor and pride,
to say nothing Of self interest, will
keep them up TO the rack. But the old
Wing leaven is there in all the states, and
especially in those where once it was the
strongest. You couldn't get any south
ern man now, perhaps, to avOW himself
in sympathy with the old Wing principles,
hut they all love the memory of Henry
Clay and the idea of protection, internal
Improvement, Capitalization and simpn-
1icatlon of government is strong with 8
very large proportion Of them.
1t would be the easiest thing
in the world to develop these
ideas if the south could only be assured
that the effort was made IN good faith,
and that the sectional cry was to cease
forever. The country is ripe for 8 break
up. A new era has begun. New blood
is coming in. CAPITAL is pouring to the
IIOuI hdlANdSS sic Uu'Iuln1 anu tx
tending. There is indeed New Sonth,'
and now it only remains for the politi-
clans OF the North to understand their
duty. You may think this queer talk
from Democrat, but then 1 in
dulge in queer talks sometimes. l
believe it would be great thing for the
whole country, and for the Democratic
party in particular, to break up the solid
south aad cease to elect presidents and
congresses on sectional lines. 1t is COM
ing as sure as the sun shines. Look at
Virginia with her six Republican con-
gressmen out of eight. North Carolina
is trembling on the verge of
political revolution; Tennessee doesn't
dare go out after dark for fear
of finding the house occupied oy some
stranger on her return; Alabama Is filling
up with northern people and is bound to
be protection state. All these things
point to a new era in American politics,
and l welcome the day of its advent. II
Mr.. Sherman csn do anything in his next
weeks tour TO prepare the people of the
south for the reception of new ideas or
make them believe that the old ones are
dead and buried he will be doing q great
work"